MARKET WIRE NEWS

Live Ventures Announces Successful Turnaround of its Subsidiary Flooring Liquidators

MWN-AI** Summary

Live Ventures Incorporated (Nasdaq: LIVE) has announced a significant turnaround for its subsidiary, Flooring Liquidators Inc., which has recently reported four consecutive months of positive EBITDA following two years of losses. Acquired in 2023, the 30-store retailer and installer of flooring, carpets, and countertops has seen rejuvenated performance under new leadership from CEO Chris Nichols. Jon Isaac, Live Ventures' President and CEO, credited this turnaround to Nichols and his management team, emphasizing the positive changes made since he assumed control.

Nichols identified several key initiatives that contributed to this success. First, Flooring Liquidators implemented cost containment through refined logistics and automation, significantly increasing business efficiency. A major improvement has been the company's ability to promise delivery within three days, a logistical feat not commonly achievable in the industry. Moreover, Nichols adjusted inventory management practices to minimize waste, likening past inefficiencies to a school bus delivering a single pizza.

Additionally, the company has taken steps to establish accountability among store managers, balancing individual discretion with corporate oversight to better understand and replicate successful performance across locations. Shifting focus to enhance their product mix, Flooring Liquidators increased private label offerings from 12% to 25%, aiming for higher margins and better quality control.

Looking ahead, Live Ventures is optimistic about ambitious growth plans for Flooring Liquidators, aiming to expand its store count significantly within the next decade. With its strong reputation for service and innovation, Flooring Liquidators is poised for a record year in fiscal 2026, underscoring Live Ventures' commitment to building value through strategic acquisitions and management improvements.

MWN-AI** Analysis

Live Ventures Incorporated (Nasdaq: LIVE) recently announced a remarkable turnaround of its subsidiary, Flooring Liquidators, which achieved four consecutive months of positive EBITDA following a challenging period of losses. This shift in fortunes under the leadership of CEO Chris Nichols is indicative of strategic refinements that could signal a compelling investment opportunity for analysts and investors alike.

The successful initiatives implemented by Nichols focus on cost containment, operational efficiency, inventory management, and enhanced accountability. Notably, the introduction of AI and automation has streamlined logistics, with three-day product delivery now firmly in place — a critical differentiator in the competitive flooring market.

Furthermore, the shift toward private label products, which increased from 12% to 25% of the product mix, is crucial for improving margins and reinforcing control over quality. This strategic pivot not only elevates brand positioning but potentially invites a more loyal customer base that values quality alongside price.

The commitment to instill greater corporate oversight while promoting individual store accountability provides a framework for replicating successful practices across locations, showcasing a balance of empowerment and structure essential for sustainable growth.

Looking forward, Live Ventures' ambitious plans to expand Flooring Liquidators to over 100 stores this decade could significantly bolster its market share. The prospects indicated for Fiscal Year 2026 suggest a year of record growth and profitability, inviting positive sentiment among investors.

From a market perspective, the turnaround at Flooring Liquidators and its impact on Live Ventures demonstrate resilience and adaptability — qualities that could render the stock attractive for value-oriented investors. As such, potential shareholders should consider the combination of strategic growth, improved financial performance, and an evolving market position when evaluating their investment decisions in Live Ventures.

**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.

Source: GlobeNewswire
  • Company Announces Four Consecutive Months of Positive EBITDA

LAS VEGAS, Sept. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Live Ventures Incorporated (Nasdaq: LIVE), a diversified holding company with a focus on value-oriented acquisitions of domestic, middle-market companies, today announced the performance turnaround of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Flooring Liquidators Inc. Flooring Liquidators is a leading 30-store retailer and installer of floors, carpets, and countertops; it was acquired by Live Ventures in fiscal year 2023.

Jon Isaac, President and Chief Executive of Live Ventures, attributed the turnaround to Flooring Liquidators’ CEO Chris Nichols and the new leadership team Nichols has built. “When Chris took the reins a few months ago, Flooring Liquidators had experienced 24 consecutive months of losses, decreasing margins, and a gradual loss of sales,” Isaac said. “In the few ensuing months since he took over, Flooring Liquidators achieved positive EBITDA for four consecutive months through July 2025, with a first month of year-over-year revenue increase in July 2025.”

Isaac said that Flooring Liquidators projects Fiscal Year 2026 to be a year of record growth and strong profitability.

Mr. Nichols enumerated the drivers of the turnaround, highlighting these four key initiatives:

One was cost containment and expense reductions made possible by sharpening systems and focusing on logistics. “Our aggressive focus on automation, AI, vendor-direct sourcing, and limiting our warehouse footprint continues to make us more efficient,” Nichols said.

Nichols emphasized the company’s ability to deliver product within three days, calling it a major differentiator. “Three-day delivery is almost unthinkable in this business. We’ve turned it into a promise, thanks in part to upgrades in our technology.”

The company also made common sense changes in inventory management. For example, Nichols noted the inefficiencies of running a 53-foot truck for a single store. “Our VP of Operations & Logistics, Dr. Thomas Price, says it’s like driving a school bus to deliver a single pizza — and we’re fixing that.”

A second factor Nichols cited is the implementation of individual store accountability. In years past, store managers were given out-sized discretionary authority, which was a well-intended encouragement to individual initiative. The downside, from the standpoint of overall company performance, however, was a lax understanding of comparative stores’ performance.

“Although an individual manager’s authority is essential to our geographically dispersed entity,” Nichols said, “corporate-level oversight is just as essential. We’re now better able to see and replicate successful practices, as well as to identify performance lags and problems that we can address.”

Third, Nichols cited improvements on the product mix and marketing side. “We have a robust and growing line of private label products, increasing private label from 12% to 25% of our total mix. This shift is significant, as private label drives higher margins while also giving us greater control over product quality.”

Finally, Nichols attributed the greatest positive impact to the talent and hard work of Flooring Liquidators’ workforce and senior managers. “Our people are going through many changes — not all of them easy and comfortable to embrace. But employees don’t buy into memos and platitudes; they buy into leaders they trust — and I’m proud of our diversified management team of company veterans and fresh blood.” Nichols explained that low prices get customers in the door — but professional services and personal expertise make the sale. “And for that, our people deserve all the credit.”

Looking ahead, Mr. Isaac expressed excitement over Live Ventures’ aggressive expansion plans for Flooring Liquidators. Isaac said that having one hundred new stores or more this decade “is almost inevitable if we stay disciplined.”

About Flooring Liquidators
Founded in 1997, Fairfield, California-based Flooring Liquidators is a leading retailer and installer of flooring, carpeting, and countertops for consumers, builders, and contractors in California, Nevada, and the Midwest. It operates 30 warehouse-format stores and design centers. Over the years, the company has established a strong reputation for innovation, efficiency, and service in the home renovation and improvement market. Flooring Liquidators serves retail and builder customers through two businesses: retail customers through its Flooring Liquidators retail stores, and builder and contractor customers through Elite Builder Services, Inc.

About Live Ventures
Live Ventures Incorporated (Nasdaq: LIVE) is a diversified holding company with a strategic focus on value-oriented acquisitions of domestic middle-market companies. Live Ventures’ acquisition strategy is sector-agnostic, targeting companies with a proven track record of stable cash flows and strong market positions. The Company’s current portfolio of diversified operating subsidiaries includes companies in the textile, flooring, tools, steel, and entertainment industries.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
The use of the word “Company” refers to Live Ventures and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Certain statements in this press release contain or may suggest “forward-looking” information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Words such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” and similar statements are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Live Ventures may also make forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, in its annual reports to stockholders, in press releases and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and there are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by the Company, including, but not limited to, plans and objectives of management for future operations or products, the market acceptance or future success of our products, and our future financial performance. The Company cautions that these forward-looking statements are further qualified by other factors including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024. Additionally, new risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all such risk factors, or to assess the impact such risk factors might have on our business. Live Ventures undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:

Live Ventures Incorporated
Greg Powell, Director of Investor Relations
725.500.5597
gpowell@liveventures.com
www.liveventures.com

Source: Live Ventures Incorporated


FAQ**

How does Live Ventures Incorporated LIVE plan to sustain the positive EBITDA momentum at Flooring Liquidators following its turnaround, especially in the face of potential market challenges going into Fiscal Year 2026?

Live Ventures Incorporated plans to sustain positive EBITDA momentum at Flooring Liquidators through strategic cost management, leveraging operational efficiencies, expanding product offerings, and enhancing marketing initiatives to adapt to market challenges ahead of Fiscal Year 2026.

What specific metrics will Live Ventures Incorporated LIVE use to evaluate the success of individual store accountability initiatives implemented under CEO Chris Nichols?

Live Ventures Incorporated will evaluate the success of individual store accountability initiatives under CEO Chris Nichols using metrics such as sales growth, customer satisfaction scores, inventory turnover rates, and employee performance assessments.

Can you elaborate on how Live Ventures Incorporated LIVE intends to fund the proposed expansion to 100 new stores for Flooring Liquidators, and what regions are targeted for this growth?

Live Ventures Incorporated plans to fund the expansion to 100 new Flooring Liquidators stores through strategic capital allocation and potential debt financing, targeting regions with high demand such as the Southeast and Midwest for effective growth and market penetration.

How does Live Ventures Incorporated LIVE plan to leverage the increase in private label products to enhance margins and market presence while ensuring product quality in Flooring Liquidators?

Live Ventures Incorporated (LIVE) plans to enhance margins and market presence in Flooring Liquidators by strategically expanding its private label offerings, focusing on quality control to ensure product excellence and positioning itself competitively in the market.

**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Live Ventures Incorporated (NASDAQ: LIVE).

Live Ventures Incorporated

NASDAQ: LIVE

LIVE Trading

0.17% G/L:

$12.08 Last:

5,415 Volume:

$11.93 Open:

mwn-ir Ad 300

LIVE Latest News

LIVE Stock Data

$59,006,512
967,572
0.14%
8
N/A
Retail - Discretionary
Consumer Discretionary
US
Las Vegas

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Link Market Wire News to Your X Account

Download The Market Wire News App